Countdown to Christmas

Updated 8:06 AM ET, Thu December 26, 2013

Photos: Countdown to Christmas68 photos

Countdown to Christmas – Members of the Berlin Seals group wade into chilly Lake Orankesee in Berlin on Wednesday, December 25. Swimming on Christmas day is a tradition with winter swimmers. Take a look at other lighthearted or interesting moments around the world related to Christmas:

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Countdown to Christmas – A child enjoys artificial snow at a shopping mall in Singapore on Tuesday, December 24.

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Countdown to Christmas – Ruben Torres, dressed in a Santa Claus outfit, waves to people from a boat with fishermen along the coast of Valparaiso, Chile, on December 24. Every year, fishermen in Valparaiso organize a Santa Claus boat trip as people wait on the shore to receive their Christmas presents and well-wishes.

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Countdown to Christmas – An Indonesian Javanese Christian prays during Christmas Eve Mass in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, on December 24.

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Countdown to Christmas – People act out a nativity scene during the unveiling ceremony of the crib in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on December 24.

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Countdown to Christmas – A water-skiing Santa Clause and a reindeer head down the Potomac River at National Harbor, Maryland, on December 24.

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Countdown to Christmas – More than 1,000 volunteers clad in Santa Claus costumes throw their hats in the air as they gather to deliver gifts for the poor in downtown Seoul, South Korea, on December 24.

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Countdown to Christmas – A diver dressed as Santa Claus surfaces after swimming in the Coral Garden tank at the South East Asia Aquarium of Resorts World Sentosa, a popular tourist attraction in Singapore, on December 24.

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Countdown to Christmas – A man dressed as Santa Claus from Lapland, Finland, listens to a girl's Christmas wish on stage at a Christmas event organized by the Finnish Embassy in Seoul, South Korea, on Monday, December 23.

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Countdown to Christmas – A chimpanzee opens a package filled with treats at a zoo in La Fleche, France, on December 23.

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Countdown to Christmas – British troops at Patrol Base Lash Durai in Afghanistan get into the festive spirit December 23.

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Countdown to Christmas – An ultra-Orthodox Jew walks beneath a Palestinian man dressed up as Santa Claus along the walls of Jerusalem's Old City on Sunday, December 22.

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Countdown to Christmas – Rowers dressed in Santa Claus costumes take part in the Christmas Regatta on the Grand Canal on Saturday, December 21, in Venice, Italy.

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Countdown to Christmas – Michael Wheeler of Kansas City, makes one of his seven laps around Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, December 22, before the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Indianapolis Colts. The 63-year-old marathon runner performs this ritual before each Chiefs home game.

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Countdown to Christmas – A timber truck driver dressed as Father Frost is seen at the Kremlin's Spasskiye [Saviour] Gate on Saturday, December 21.

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Countdown to Christmas – Petty Officer Second Class Sven Gruner is greeted by his girlfriend Rebecca Ankem at the Frigate Niedersachsen, docked after returning to Wilhelmshaven, Germany, on Friday, December 20, from a five-month anti-pirate operation off the Horn of Africa.

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Countdown to Christmas – Tom Tapp dressed as Santa Claus walks along the beach passing out candy canes and posing for pictures with beachgoers on December 20, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

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Countdown to Christmas – Tapp has been visiting the beach in Fort Lauderdale as Santa Claus for more than 25 years.

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Countdown to Christmas – Andy, Harvey and Dianne Thorn look at the arrivals board at Gatwick airport on December 20 in London. Large numbers of people are using the transport system to return home or head off on holiday.

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Countdown to Christmas – A man wearing a Santa Claus costume rides a horse and distributes gifts to children in a street of Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on December 20.

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Countdown to Christmas – Axel Richter prepares himself for the role of Santa Claus on Thursday, December 19, in Hanover, Germany. Richter starts growing his beard out in August to be sure it's long enough by Christmas when he visits nine families and brings presents to the children, reads them poems and celebrates Christmas with them.

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Countdown to Christmas – Boys cry as they are pictured with Santa Claus at a kindergarten in Damascus, Syria, on December 19.

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Countdown to Christmas – A Palestinian shop owner carries a Santa Claus figure on the street preparing for Christmas near Jaffa Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem, Israel, on December 19.

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Countdown to Christmas – A girl walks by a Coca-Cola Christmas ad in Beijing on December 19.

Countdown to Christmas – A man dressed as Santa Claus drives his motorcycle in Bochum, Germany, on December 18.

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Countdown to Christmas – Kites in the shape of Santa Claus glide in the wind as part of an exhibition next to the Eiffel Tower in Paris on Tuesday, December 17.

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Countdown to Christmas – A man wearing a Santa Claus outfit waves from a military helicopter at a Romanian Air Force base in Otopeni, Romania, on December 17. Santa arrived on a helicopter and distributed gifts to children.

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Countdown to Christmas – A performer in a Santa Claus costume dunks the ball during a timeout in the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game between the Boston Celtics and the Minnesota Timberwolves in Boston on Monday, December 16.

Countdown to Christmas – A staff member dressed as Santa Claus walks out to greet customers at the Santa's Place shop in Melbourne on December 16.

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Countdown to Christmas – An orangutan named Pacquiao wears a Santa costume at the Malabon Zoo in Malabon City, Philippines, on December 15.

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Countdown to Christmas – Santas ski from Uley's Ice Bar on Crested Butte Mountain in Crested Butte, Colorado, for the first 'Santa Ski Crawl' on Saturday, December 14.

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Countdown to Christmas – Revelers dressed as Santa Claus run under fake snow during a mini-marathon in Madrid on December 14.

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Countdown to Christmas – Men dressed as Santa Claus use the bathroom at a bar during a SantaCon event in Vancouver, British Colombia, on December 14.

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Countdown to Christmas – About 6,000 people dressed up as Santa Claus and his elves to run in the Madrid mini-marathon.

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Countdown to Christmas – Hundreds of people dressed in Santa Claus costumes march through central London during the annual SantaCon celebration on December 14.

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Countdown to Christmas – A man dressed as Santa Claus addresses riot police on Independence Square in Kiev, Ukraine, on Wednesday, December 11.

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Countdown to Christmas – A Christmas tree stands on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol on December 11.

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Countdown to Christmas – Israelis play next to a giant snowman on Mount Hermon in Golan Heights on December 11.

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Countdown to Christmas – A diver dressed as Santa Claus swims with sardines at the Coex Aquarium in Seoul, South Korea, on Tuesday, December 10.

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Countdown to Christmas – Christmas ornaments and decorations are plentiful at Festive Productions Ltd. in Cwmbran, Wales, on December 10.

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Countdown to Christmas – Stuart Baillieul, an employee with Festive Productions Ltd., selects decorations to be sold by retailers at retail shows.

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Countdown to Christmas – Pop singer Lady Gaga wears a real Christmas tree as a hat while returning to her hotel following the Jingle Bell Ball at London's O2 Arena on December 9.

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Countdown to Christmas – A man playing Santa Claus entertains children at a nursery school in Tokyo on December 9.

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Countdown to Christmas – A man checks out a statue called "Santa Claus Tourist in the USA" in Menton, France, on December 9.

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Countdown to Christmas – These horror masks, seen in a Madrid window display on December 9, lend a frightening air to the holiday season.

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Countdown to Christmas – A puppy poses for a picture on December 9 at the Blue Cross center in Southampton, Britain. The adoption facility is looking for new owners for the 12 dogs of Christmas -- a dozen puppies from the same litter who are just six weeks old.

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Countdown to Christmas – Anthony Martinez, owner of a Miami Christmas tree lot, adjusts the outfit on a Santa Claus mannequin while waiting for customers December 9.

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Countdown to Christmas – Runners dressed as Santa Claus take part in a Santa Run on December 6, in Hanover, Germany.

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Countdown to Christmas – U.S. President Barack Obama hugs Santa Claus during the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony on December 6.

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Countdown to Christmas – Inkota activists dressed as Santa Claus demonstrate in support of the "Make Chocolate Fair!" campaign on December 5 in Berlin. The campaign promotes fair-trade chocolate and better working conditions for cacao farmers in Africa.

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Countdown to Christmas – Workers at the Vatican set up the traditional Christmas tree in St. Peter's Square on December 5.

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Countdown to Christmas – Doyle Cooper of the Red Hot Brass Band participates in the "Lights Up The Holidays" gala at Lafreniere Park in Metairie, Louisiana, on December 5.

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Countdown to Christmas – Santa Clauses bunny-hop through Times Square as they deliver holiday Peeps and spread cheer on December 4.

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Countdown to Christmas – A Christmas tree decorated with footballs and national flags stands on the grounds of the Costa do Sauipe Resort in Costa do Sauipe, Brazil, on December 4. The resort was the venue for the final draw of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

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Countdown to Christmas – Young skaters in Guatemala City, Guatemala, hold on to a wall as they skate on an ice ring installed at Constitution Square on December 4.

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Countdown to Christmas – Wax figures of Usain Bolt, Albert Einstein, Kate Winslet, Richard Branson and Boris Johnson are dressed in Christmas sweaters December 3 in support of the Save The Children campaign at Madame Tussauds in London.

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Countdown to Christmas – A diving Santa rings a bell next to a ray at the Sea Life Aquarium in Berlin on December 3.

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Countdown to Christmas – Kara Iden is watched by a police officer December 3 as she leads a camel to the Supreme Court to participate in a live nativity scene in Washington.

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Countdown to Christmas – Santas visit the Skywalk at Sydney Tower on December 2 in Sydney.

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Countdown to Christmas – A child posts a letter to Santa in the Elf Village in Ascot, England, on November 30. LaplandUK opened its doors at its new location in Ascot, offering a Christmas experience set in a snow-covered forest with real huskies, reindeer and Father Christmas himself.

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Countdown to Christmas – A figure of Santa Claus stands in front of the House of Family Vogt, lit by more than 450,000 lights, on November 30 in Buecken, Germany.

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Countdown to Christmas – A woman dressed as an angel adjusts her gaiters next to men dressed as Santa Claus during the general meeting of Berlin's Santas and Angels on November 30.

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Countdown to Christmas – Santa and 2-month-old Ty'e Fishe have their picture taken November 29 at Lakeside Mall in Metairie, Louisiana.

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Countdown to Christmas – Savannah Rice snaps a picture with her boyfriend November 29 at Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland, Oregon.